Product Information

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker, which is a group of medicines used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina. Calcium channel blockers work by relaxing the blood vessels, which leads to a decrease in pressure on the heart. Calcium channel blockers are generally used to treat mild to moderate cases of hypertension. Amlodipine is a daily tablet that is available in strengths of 5mg and 10mg. Amlodipine is the unbranded version of the drug Istin.

Muscle cells need calcium to contract. Amlodipine works by targeting muscle cells on the arterial walls throughout the body. This action blocks the cells access to calcium, which causes the muscles to relax. This results in a slight widening (dilation) of the arteries, which enables the heart to circulate blood with greater ease. This has the effect of lowering blood pressure. Amlodipine also acts on the arteries of the heart, causing the same mild dilation. This increases the oxygen supply to the heart, which helps to relieve the chest pain associated with angina.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is very common. However, it does not usually present with any noticeable symptoms, which can leave many sufferers unaware of their condition. Under these circumstances, hypertension could potentially lead to serious complications with the heart, kidneys, brain, and other organs. If hypertension is ignored, the risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke, and/or kidney failure is significantly increased. Amlodipine, like other hypertension medication, is not able to cure high blood pressure. However, it will effectively help to manage the condition. If you have been prescribed Amlodipine, it is important you continue to take this medicine until your doctor advises that you stop.

Hypertension treatment alone should not be relied on to treat your high blood pressure. Instead, treatments, such as Amlodipine, should be used to supplement a healthy lifestyle. There are a number of simple lifestyle choices that will greatly reduce the stress on your heart. This includes:

Reduce the amount of fat in your diet

Reduce the amount of salt in your diet

Exercise regularly

Quitting smoking

Cutting down on alcohol

You may be prescribed Amlodipine alongside other hypertension medicines, including Atenolol, Bendroflumethiazide or Losartan.

Why choose The Independent Pharmacy?

Fast delivery- order before 4pm and receive your treatment as quickly as the next day

Free online consultation service with one of our registered GMC doctors

Discreet packaging & confidential service - we don't include any branding or pharmacy logo on our packaging meaning you can get your treatment delivered anywhere

UK based and GMC UK registered Doctors

Only proven prescription medication available

Approved by the National Pharmacy Association and Care Quality Commission

There are some Non-Prescription alternatives to help treat High Blood Pressure including;

Eat more fruit, vegetables, and low fat foods

Limit salt, sugary drinks and red meats

Cut back on saturated and trans fats alongside cholesterol.

Try to limit stress

Consider alternative therapies such asAcupuncture and meditation.

*Prescription medicines are supplied subject to a medical consultation at the discretion of a doctor.

Amlodipine is available in 5mg and 10mg tablets. Your recommended strength and dose of Amlodipine will vary depending on the nature of your condition, your medical history and whether you are taking it alone or alongside another blood pressure medicine. Always follow your doctor's directions exactly. Continue taking Amlodipine until your doctor advises that you stop, even if you feel healthy.

Generally, the initial dose is 5mg per day. Swallow the tablet whole with a sip of water. Amlodipine can be taken either with or without food.

If, for any reason, you forget to take a tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is nearly time for your next tablet, skip the dose that you missed. Never double your dose to compensate for a dose that you have missed.

Alcohol does not directly interact with this medicine; however, you should avoid drinking heavily because the combination may lower your blood pressure excessively.

Not everyone will experience side effects when they take Amlodipine, however, if you do they can include:

Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.

Amlodipine is unsuitable if you:

Have low blood pressure

Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Have circulation problems or untreated heart failure

Suffer from aortic stenosis (a narrowing of the aortic valve)

Before taking Amlodipine, inform your GP if you:

Have liver disease

Have recently suffered a heart attack

Are elderly

Have heart failure

Tell your GP or pharmacist if you have taken or plan to take any of the following medicines:

Antifungal medicines (e.g. itraconazole, ketoconazole)

HIV medicines (e.g. ritonavir, nelfinavir)

Certain antibiotics: (e.g. erythromycin, rifampicin)

Certain heart medicines (e.g. verapamil, diltiazem)

St Johns Wort

Simvastatin (for high cholesterol)

Dantrolene

Avoid grapefruit juice, as it is known to interact with Amlodipine. A substance in the grapefruit increases the concentration of the drug within the bloodstream, which may make you more susceptible to side effects.

Please read all packaging and the Product Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take.

Delivery & Shipping Information

UK ORDERS

We offer FREE standard tracked delivery on orders over £40.

The following delivery options are available:

Standard Tracked Delivery - 2/3 day delivery - £2.95

Express Tracked Delivery - 1/2 day delivery - £4.45

DPD Next Day - 1 working day - £6.95

Special Delivery (Guaranteed before 1pm) - £8.95

Saturday Guaranteed before 1pm - £10.45

Important Delivery Information

All our orders are sent out using Royal Mail (unless stated). We always aim to dispatch all Royal Mail orders received before 4pm the same working day. Any orders received after 4pm or over the weekend will be dispatched the next working day. We aim to dispatch all DPD orders placed before 3pm on the same working day.Orders will not be dispatched on weekends or bank holidays.

All orders are subject to approval by our team of doctors and pharmacists. Your delivery date in the checkout is subject to your consultation being approved by our healthcare team.

All orders can be fully tracked from your dispatch email and in your account.

We ensure all parcels are in plain packaging for discreet delivery of your medicines and pharmacy goods.

Deliveries containing pharmacy-only or prescription medicines may require a signature on receipt.

Delivery is free for all NHS prescriptions.

Royal Mail

Royal Mail are the most widely recognised mail delivery company in the UK. Being on the UK’s 29 million doorsteps six days a week means they offer unparalleled price and convenience. The Independent Pharmacy uses Royal Mail’s Tracked 48, Tracked 24, and Special Delivery Guaranteed parcel services to offer reliable, fully-tracked delivery at very competitive prices. Your Royal Mail parcel will arrive with your normal daily delivery of post.

Please note: Royal Mail do not deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays - this should be taken into account when ordering.

If you are not home to accept your delivery, a card should be left by the Royal Mail representative. This card will provide details of where you can collect the order or how to arrange re-delivery.

Should you be unable to collect your missed delivery or arrange for your medication to be redelivered by Royal Mail, the pharmacy can resend your medication to the same, or a different address provided it has been returned to us and this happens within a 30 day window.

Once a package has been shipped with Royal Mail we advise that you are bound to the terms and conditions of their use together with the terms and conditions contained herein.

You have the right to cancel your order up to the point when your treatment is dispatched. The pharmacist must destroy any medication within 30 days of it being returned, even un-opened boxes, so we are not able to offer refunds once your treatment has been dispatched.

DPD

DPD Local is the most innovative parcel carrier around. Thanks to their industry-leading Predict service, they provide parcel recipients with a one hour delivery window, notified by email, so you don't have to wait in all day. What's more, it enables receivers to watch the progress of their delivery on a real-time map, all the way down to a final 15 minute time-slot.

As well as keeping customers informed at every stage of the journey, DPD believe in maximising choice and convenience. That's why DPD provide access to a suite of options both on the day of delivery and the night before, allowing customers to take delivery of their goods in a way that suits. If you wish to reschedule, you can:

Select an alternative delivery date

Opt for delivery to a nominated neighbour

Have the parcel left in a specified safe place

Collect the parcel from your local DPD Pickup Shop

Upgrade delivery to By 12

Please note: DPD do not deliver on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays - this should be taken into account when ordering.

Once a package has been shipped with DPD we advise that you are bound to the terms and conditions of their use together with the terms and conditions contained herein.

You have the right to cancel your order up to the point when your treatment is dispatched. The pharmacist must destroy any medication within 30 days of it being returned, even un-opened boxes, so we are not able to offer refunds once your treatment has been dispatched.

Forwarding houses

We are unable to ship orders to mailing or forwarding houses for onwards shipping to locations outside of the UK.

BFPO Postcodes

Unfortunately we are unable to deliver medicines to BFPO postcodes.

Remote Areas

Please be aware that Royal Mail Guaranteed services are not available to all customers in the UK, especially those that live in remote postcodes. Royal Mail advise customers of the following:

Frequently Asked Questions

Amlodipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pains). If taken regularly, amlodipine will help relieve and control chest pain. However, it will not stop chest pain once it has started.

Amlodipine works to lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels. This reduces stress on the heart as it no longer needs to pump as hard. Relaxed blood vessels mean the heart can receive a greater supply of blood, which helps to alleviate the chest pain associated with angina.

In addition to taking amlodipine, making healthy lifestyle changes will also help control your blood pressure. This will include, eating a low-salt/low-fat diet, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising for at least 30 minutes a day. If you are a smoker you should quit smoking. Also, you should only drink alcohol in moderation. Amlodipine tablets should serve to supplement a healthy lifestyle, not replace one.

Amlodipine comes in tablet form. It is usually taken once a day. It is recommended to take the tablet at roughly the same time each day, following the printed directions on your medicine. Do not take any more or any less than is prescribed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if there is any part of your treatment you do not understand.

You should take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose. In which case, skip the missed dose and continue with your next dose as normal. Never double-up a dose to compensate for a missed one.

You won't notice any difference immediately after taking amlodipine. It will usually take some time for your blood pressure to stabilise and start to reduce. To establish whether the medication is working, you will need to have your blood pressure measured and compared with previous readings.

Unless specifically told otherwise by your doctor, you should continue to take amlodipine. Physical factors that may influence a reduction in your dose include; loss of weight, increased fitness, smoking cessation, dietary changes. In some cases, taking the tablets may no longer be necessary.